The U.S. Navy recently awarded Boeing a $1.98 billion contract
for 13 additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft, continuing the modernization
of U.S. maritime patrol capabilities that will ultimately
involve more than 100 P-8As. The contract includes long-lead
funding previously approved by the Navy.

A
Russian-built aircraft carrier due to be delivered to the
Indian Navy following a much-delayed refit has successfully
passed engine tests during the first stage of final sea trials
in the White Sea, shipbuilder Sevmash said Tuesday. The current
trials focused on the ship's propulsion system and its ability
to perform as required.

Australia
Thanks Sikorsky for Early Delivery of First MH-60R Helicopter

The
Commonwealth of Australia has thanked Sikorsky
Aircraft Corp. for early delivery of the first
MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to the U.S. Navy, the
initial step in the process to transfer a mission-ready
aircraft to the Australian Defence Force in December
2013.

Chinese
Navy (PLAN) new Type 096 SSBN may start Strategic Patrol as early as
next year

China’s
navy new Type 096 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
(SSBN) will likely begin its first sea patrol next year according
to U.S. defense officials. These patrols will also include
the new JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The French Navy's Fleet Support Service (SSF) signed off on
the completion of the intermediate refit of nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle after six months’
work by DCNS. From hull to combat system, without forgetting
compliance tests to the latest environmental standards, communications
suite modernisation or the refurbishment of the accommodation
and recreation areas, the project involved some 950 people
and 1 million person-hours’ work.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce
that the first five AW101 Merlin HM Mk 2 helicopters have
been delivered to the Royal Navy's 824 Naval Air Squadron
based at RNAS Culdrose in Southwest England. A ceremony was
held today at RNAS Culdrose to celebrate the formation of
the Navy's first Merlin HM Mk.2 equipped squadron.

Alenia
Aermacchi delivered the first ATR72-600 TMUA (Turkish Maritime
Utility Aircraft) to the Turkish Navy, the first of a total
order of eight ATR72s, which consist of two TMUAs and six
ATR72-600 TMPA (Turkish Maritime Patrol Aircraft) maritime
patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The
U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout
unmanned system when Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered
its first MQ-8C system this month. Northrop Grumman is the
Navy's prime contractor for the MQ-8 Fire Scout program of
record. The company delivered the first MQ-8C aircraft to
the Navy in early July in preparation for ground and flight
testing.

The
UK’s submarine capability has taken a significant step
forward today with work beginning on the assembly of Agamemnon,
the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute Class submarine. The keel,
which is the first part of the boat to be built, was unveiled
at a ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness
by Defence Minister Philip Dunne.

According
to the head of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal
Geoff Brown, Australia is currently considering an increase
in the number of P-8 Poseidon it plans to procure which would
reduce the number of MQ-4C Triton drone it originally planned
to purchase.

The
337th Test and Evaluation Squadron successfully completed
their first captive carry test of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile
on-board a B-1 Bomber June 17, marking a significant step
forward toward the B-1's role in the maritime environment.

Raytheon,
Chemring Group plan live missile firing for next phase of CENTURION®
development

Raytheon
Company, acting through its Missile Systems business,
and Chemring Group are finalizing plans to conduct
a live missile firing of the multirole CENTURION®
launcher at the Defence Training Estate on Salisbury
Plain during the fourth quarter of 2013.

U.S. Navy Poised to Launch Lockheed Martin-Built Second MUOS Satellite

The
U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin are ready to launch the second
Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite here on Friday,
July 19 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The
launch window is between 8:48 a.m. and 9:32 a.m. EDT.

The second of two multi-purpose vessels commissioned from
Fincantieri by the General Command of the Port Authority Corp
for the Italian Coast Guard was launched today at Castellammare
di Stabia (Naples). The vessel, due to be delivered by the
end of this year, is the twin unit of the “Luigi Dattilo”,
launched last December, which will be delivered within this
summer.

Six
formations of different forces of the Russian Pacific Fleet
fulfilled several anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training exercises
in the designated area of the Sea of Okhotsk during massive
snap drills of the troops of the Eastern Military District,
the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said on
Monday.

USNS
Montford Point (MLP 1) departed San Diego July 12 for Naval
Station Everett, Wash. Montford Point is the Navy's first
mobile landing platform, delivered to the Navy in San Diego
May 14, and is expected to be fully operational in fiscal
year 2015. The ship, crewed by 33 contract mariners working
for a company under charter to Military Sealift Command, will
perform system tests during the voyage to its temporary layberth.

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract to
deploy the Skeldar Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for maritime
operations. Skeldar UAS will be operationally deployed with
the customer before the end of this year and will be used
in naval operations where the benefits of a Vertical Take
Off and Landing UAS are most prominent.

Littoral combat ships remain one of the top priorities for
US Navy leadership. The program has had stable requirements
since the capabilities definition document was first approved
by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council in 2004.

Stiletto
Maritime Demonstration Program Teams with UK for UAV Demonstration

The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program partnered with
the United Kingdom's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory
(DSTL) for an unmanned aerial systems capability demonstration,
June 10-20, off the Maryland coast near Naval Air Station
Patuxent River in Patuxent River, Md.

The
Yantar shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad
has launched construction of a new Project 11356 frigate for
the Russian navy, local media reported. The official ceremony,
attended by Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Rear Admiral
Sergei Popov, was held Friday, according to Baltic Reporter
online news portal.

Lockheed
Martin recently completed a series of Long Range Anti-Ship
Missile (LRASM) captive carry flight tests at the Sea Range
in Point Mugu, Calif., advancing the research program toward
its first missile release and free flight test later this
year.

Royal Australian Navy leading the world with MRH90 helicopter introduction
at sea

The Royal Australian Navy is leading the world in bringing
the new MRH90 ‘Taipan’ Multi-Role Helicopter into
service at sea. The
RAN soon-to-be-commissioned 808 Squadron has been conducting
trials, testing, evaluation and training on the MRH90 Taipan
helicopter since 2010.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress
July 9 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia
of 30 Mark V patrol boats and associated equipment, parts,training
and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.